Global municipal waste recycling rate 2022, by select country
Slovenia and Germany had the highest municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling rates among OECD countries in 2022, at 55.3 and 47 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, South Korea boasted a recycling rate of some 54 percent in 2021. Of the 10 highest ranked recycling rates within OECD, nine were European countries. In contrast, the recycling rate in Costa Rica was below five percent.
Who generates the most MSW?
With a recycling rate of less than 25 percent, the United States is the biggest producer of municipal solid waste across the globe, followed closely by China. With landfilling ranking as the most common method of MSW disposal in these two countries, they are home to three of the five largest MSW landfills in the world, with over 10,000 tons being dumped daily at each one. In terms of municipal waste generation per capita, the United States ranks second in the world, behind Denmark.
How is MSW recycled?
Municipal solid waste recycling involves a series of processes aimed at recovering valuable materials from the waste stream and diverting them from landfill or incineration. After the waste is collected and sorted at recycling facilities, recyclables undergo processing such as shredding, crushing, or melting to convert the materials into a usable form. The processed recyclables are then sent to manufacturers who use them as raw materials for producing new goods. Recycling practices can vary across regions, and not all materials are easily recyclable.
